Today was a landmark day outside the OCC Recycling Center LEED Gold Certified Building. In an unprecedented sweep for sustainability, the recycling center is seeking certification under the Sustainable SITES Initiative and True Zero Waste Certification in addition to the already-awarded LEED Certification per U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) guidelines. This October 26, 2018 grass roots effort to plant native plants from Tree of Life Nursery and begin the bioswale construction to satisfy prerequisites and credits for SITES involved students, faculty, staff and volunteers from the OCC Community as well as Michael Baker International , Verde and Byline7 . Thanks to Mike Ricks and his maintenance team from OCC, Joe Stead for his amazing bioswale construction knowledge, Mike Carey-OCC Recycling Sustainability Director and everyone who participated this sustainability dream is becoming a reality. This may be the first SITES Certified Project in Orange County and certainly the first to achieve all three certifications! USGBC Orange County members and OCC’s Mascot, “Pete the Pirate” were also there!